Harakeke grown by prisoners being split by council workers for planting around
Lake Omapere. Photo courtesy of Kate Banbury.
Prisoners at the Northland Region Corrections Facility may be behind bars, but they're helping to protect Lake Omapere from pollution by growing thousands of native plants to revegetate the lake's shores.
Twelve-hundred hectare Lake Omapere provided drinking water for nearby Kaikohe township until the mid-1980s, when it fell victim to a large algal bloom infestation.
Prisoners on a horticulture course are growing kanuka and harakeke (flax) which is being planted on the lake’s shores to help prevent sediment and nutrient run-off from contaminating the lake further.
Northland Regional Council Land Management Officer Kate Banbury says Corrections’ involvement doesn’t end there.
"Last year the harakeke grown in the prison was split up ready for planting by offenders doing community work sentences.
“Their supervisor, Dean TeTai, was great. We couldn’t have done it without him and his work parties.”
Remana Henwood of the Lake Omapere Project Management Group says with the help of Corrections, local people and landowners, he hopes the lake will be useable again in about 30 years time.
“Fish are coming back downstream and that’s a good sign. It’s a slow process, but one day we’ll be able to use the lake for water and waka races again,” he says.
Fiona Reihana Ruka (right) planting prisoner-grown harakeke on the shores
of Lake Omapere with her mokopuna Kowhai Puti Reihana-Tohu and Hawaiiki Reihana-Tohu,
and her son Te Ramaroa Reihana Ruka- Selwyn. Fiona and Te Ramaroa are from
Ngati Pakau Taheke. Kowhai and Hawaiiki are from Te Popoto, Te Ihu Tai, Ngati Pakau Taheke.
They all have whakapapa links to Lake Omapere and are involved with seed collection
and planting. Kowhai and Hawaiiki are also mokopuna of Hine Tohu,
a Lake Omapere Trustee. Photo courtesy of Kate Banbury.
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ISSN 1178-8453